THE CATHOLIC PAGE 3 Prayer essential for St. Elizabeth Hospital June 28, 2013 Vol.ommentator 51, No. 10 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C BSA decision not affecting ‘SURREAL’ local troops By Barbara Chenevert The Catholic Commentator The recent decision to allow openly gay youth into the Boy Scouts has not had an adverse impact on lo- cal Catholic scouting as yet, Deacon Richard Grant, scout chaplain, said. “It’s been business as usual,” he said. People have been calling to ask questions, and some are very con- cerned, but Deacon Grant said he was “not alarmed by the decision.” However, he added, it is too early to evaluate what will happen in the near future. Deacon Grant, chaplain for the approximately 100 troops in the diocese, said he sent all the priests and deacons in the diocese copies of letters from the National Catho- lic Committee on Scouting with its reaction right after the decision was made by the Boy Scouts of America. The letter states, “The Catholic Church teaches that people who ex- perience a homosexual inclination or a same sex attraction are to be “I just can’t imagine you live through that,” Carol Spruell said of her initial reaction after viewing the damage caused by two treated with respect recognizing the tornadoes in Oklahoma. Photo provided by Carol Spruell | Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge dignity of all persons. “The church’s teaching is clear Spruell stunned by devastation in Oklahoma SEEA BS PAGE 19 By Richard Meek forts in American Samoa following the 2009 Tsunami and in The Catholic Commentator Alabama in 2011 after tornadoes ripped through Tuscaloosa. Bishop Muench “It’s one of those things where I know what it’s like to be Smell can be a peculiar sense. kind of thrown into the middle of things,” said Spruell, who recovering An aroma permeates one’s being, archiving the events teaches at the annual Applied Institute for Disaster Excel- that were the source of that particular odor. lence, a week-long workshop sponsored by Catholic Charities Bishop Robert W. Muench For Carol Spruell the sights vary at disaster sites she visits, USA that addresses all gamut of disaster response. is home recovering from sur- but each carry the familiar scent of destruction. “And if I’ve got some things I can share and some tools I gery. Bishop Muench under- It resurfaced recently when she spent 10 days assisting developed, by all means that’s what I can do,” she added. went surgery June 17 at Our in the aftermath of two deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma in 11 Lady of the Lake Regional (As of June 21, weekend collections in churches in the days, claiming more than 40 lives, including seven elemen- Medical Center and returned Baton Rouge Diocese brought in $50,612 that will be sent to the tary school children. home June 18. He is spend- Archdiocese of Oklahoma City to be used for tornado relief “The smell,” Spruell, who is communications director for ing two weeks recuperating efforts. Contributions are still coming in from the church Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, said of her on the recommendation of parishes and individuals.) first reaction upon arriving in the affected areas. his doctors. “That first five minutes,” she added. “It gets me every But even as a veteran of disasters she was stunned by the Bishop Muench thanks time. Don’t know if that will ever go away.” devastation, entire city blocks reduced to rubble, chimneys the people of the Diocese of Spruell is no stranger to the recovery process, earning, serving as sentries over a site where houses stood and chil- Baton Rouge for the many what she aptly calls her “degree in disaster management dren played. prayers and well wishes. from Katrina University.” While in Oklahoma she applied “This was different than Katrina,” Spruell said. “A six- lessons learned from Katrina and subsequent recovery ef- SEE SURREAL PAGE 9 2 The Catholic Commentator June 28, 2013 | IN THIS ISSUE | DID YOU KNOW SPECIAL TRAINING for July dedicated to Precious Blood of Christ special athletes. PAGE 12 During the month of day was removed from the July, the Catholic Church official calendar in 1969 be- puts special emphasis on cause “the Most Precious the Precious Blood of Christ. Blood of Christ the Redeem- LOCAL PRO-LIFE LEADERS discuss DOJ In fact, each month of the er is already venerated in the decision on morning after bill. PAGE 19 liturgical year is dedicated solemnities of the Passion, to a particular devotional of Corpus Christi and of the JESUS MODELS MASCULINITY and love emphasis. Sacred Heart of Jesus and in for local fathers and sons. PAGE 5 FATHER AUGUSTINE DEARMOND OF SPRINGFIELD is ordained into the Five months of the year the feast of the Exaltation of put focus on the Blessed the Holy Cross,” according ONE-MAN PLAY Dominican Mother, while four months to the 1969 Roman Calen- PORTRAYS life of Order of are dedicated to honoring dar. However, a Mass of the Blessed Father Preachers. Jesus by a particular name. Most Precious Blood is still Xavier Seelos. PAGE 20 The holy family, St. Joseph placed among the votive PAGE 7 and the souls in purgatory are remem- Masses. Even though the feast day no bered in the other months. longer exists, the month-long devotion is The practice of placing special em- still honored. phasis on days and months arose from The other months and their dedica- | INDEX popular devotions since the 16th century, tions are: January, The Holy Name and when various litanies and novenas pre- Childhood of Jesus; February, The Holy CLASSIFIED ADS 18 vailed, and a series of Sundays and week- Family; March, St. Joseph; April, The ST. JUDE THE COMING EVENTS 18 days were designated to honor particular Blessed Sacrament; May, Mary; June, APOSTLE ENTERTAINMENt 14 saints or mysteries. Even entire months Sacred Heart of Jesus; August, Immac- BLENDS new FAMILY LIFE 5 were given special devotions. ulate Heart of Mary; September, Seven elements with In 1849 Pope Pius IX instituted the Sorrows of Mary; October, The Holy Ro- the comfort- INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL NEWS 4 feast of the Precious Blood of our Lord sary; November, The Poor Souls in Pur- able and familiar in the renovation of its SPIRITUALITY 7 as the first Sunday in July, but later Pope gatory; and December, The Immaculate church, which will be dedicated on June VIEWPOINt 16 Pius X set the feast on July 1. The feast Conception. 30. PAGE 8 YOUTH 12 | PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PRAY FOR US Please pray for the priests, deacons and religious women and men in the Baton Rouge Diocese. June 30 Rev. Henry C. Vavasseur July 7 † Most Rev. Robert E. Tracy Dcn. Steven C. Gonzales Dcn. John A. Jung Jr. Sr. Marie-Paul Le ICM Sr. M. Vida Marya MC July 1 Rev. Than N. Vu July 8 † Most Rev. Joseph V. Sullivan Dcn. Richard H. Grant Dcn. Robert J. Kusch Sr. Bert Lieux CSJ Sr. Ancilla Mathew CMC July 2 Rev. Clarence J. Waguespack July 9 † Most Rev. Stanley J. Ott Dcn. Esnard F. Gremillion Dcn. Thomas E. Labat Sr. Sr. Beth Lieux CSJ Br. Will McCue SC It’s That Time Again! July 3 Rev. Miles D. Walsh July 10 Most Rev. Robert W. Muench Dcn. Ronald J. Hebert Dcn. Ronald D. LeGrange Br. Noel Lemmon SC Sr. Evelyn Mee CSJ July 4 Rev. Derrick Weingartner SJ July 11 Rev. Howard R. Adkins The Catholic Commentator is publishing Dcn. Clayton A. Hollier Dcn. Albert Levy III Sr. Vernola Lyons OSF Br. Malcolm Melcher SC its annual “Back-to-School” special section. July 5 Rev. Ju Hyung (Paul) Yi July 12 Rev. Donatus Ajoko Dcn. William H. Holtman Dcn. James A. Little Let our over 200,000 readers know how their Sr. Joan Manuel CSJ Sr. Anne Meridier CSJ children can benefit from your products and services July 6 Rev. Gerard F. Young July 13 Rev. Michael J. Alello Dcn. Micheal J. (Shelley) Joseph Dcn. Edwin J. Martin Sr. Ancilla Marie MC Sr. Dolores Munez HMSS Issue date: July 12, 2013 Space deadline: July 2, 2013 THE CATHOLIC For inquiries or space reservation contact Wanda Koch or Commentator Penny Saia at (225) 387-0983 or FAX (225) 336-8710 or thecatholiccommentator.org | Facebook.com/TheCatholicCommentator e-mail to [email protected] or [email protected]. Bishop Robert W. Muench Publisher Wanda L. Koch Advertising Manager Father Than Vu Associate Publisher Penny G. Saia Advertising Sales Richard Meek Editor Lisa Disney Secretary/Circulation THE CATHOLIC Debbie Shelley Assistant Editor Barbara Chenevert Staff Writer The Catholic Commentator (ISSN 07460511; USPS 093-680) Published bi-weekly (every other week) by the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge,1800 South Acadian Thru- way, Baton Rouge, LA 70808; 225-387-0983 or 225-387-0561. Periodical Postage Paid at Baton Rouge, LA. Copy must reach the above address by Wednesday for use in the next week’s paper. Subscription rate: $12.00 per year. POSTMASTER, send address changes to The Catholic Commentator, P.O. Box 14746, Baton Month xx, xxxx Vol. Cxx, No. xx ommentatorSERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1962 www.diobr.org/tcc Rouge, LA 70898-4746. June 28, 2013 The Catholic Commentator 3 Prayer aids medical personnel in emergency By Richard Meek The Catholic Commentator When word came that St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales would be treating patients injured in a chemical explosion at a plant in Geismar, emergency per- sonnel and other employees prepared the way they normally do in such cases.